Lawmaker changes sides, covers convention as a reporter

DENVER -- Numbered among the 15,000 reporters, photographer and bloggers covering the Democratic National Convention this week has been Rep. Ken Guin.

The Carbon Hill democrat, who is the majority leader in the Alabama House of Representatives, started his own small, weekly newspaper last year and sought media credentials to the convention and got them.

So, how does it compare with covering a story as opposed to being covered?

"It's a lot more fun being on this side of things, It's a blast, really," Guin said.

Guin started the "Corridor Messenger", in October realizing a dream he has had for year.

"I have always thought I wanted to own one, at least since college," Guin said, "I think there is a need for small community newspapers, and that's what we are. We don't belong to the Associated Press, we don't cover international news, just those small everyday things that people in Walker County care about."

Ten months into the newspaper business, Guin's paper is up to 3,000 circulation a week. It cost 75 cents a copy.

If you pick up this week's Messenger, you'll find a couple of stories with Denver datelines written by Guin.

"I did a story on the delegation's event out in the mountains on Sunday and took a photo of Joe Turnhman addressing the delegation with the city and mountains in the background; and I did a story on Artur Davis, sat down with him and asked some questions, and of course I've gone to the convention."

Guin, a lawyer, said his paper has a staff of two.

Guin is one of the state lawmakers caught up in the battle between Democrats and Republicans over whether state legislators should hold jobs or contracts in the two-year-college system, and he has not always been treated kindly by reporters or editorial writers.